Gerald Stern reads his poem “The Dancing” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

Marilyn Chin reads her poem “The Floral Apron” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

Toi Derricotte reads her poem “Blackbottom” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

Daisy Zamora reads her poem “Mother’s Day” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

Kwame Dawes reads his poem “Tornado Child” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

if the world iss p in ni ngand i am walking &am away from the sunam i (up) sidedown?if we are all differentand everyone sees different striationsin the sidewalkand the hand of godmixes those ideas togetheris that perfect?or my perception of what is perfect?how long do i need to rain dancearound the capital, the t.v. stations, the jails?its like this:the last shall be first&thefirstshallbelastit takes moreit takes moreit takes morethan broken records and skipping needlesit takes holding the hands of heroin prisoners and walking down with them the hall to the end where the door is and opening the door and walking them through and sitting with them at that bare table, that empty table and looking in maps of their eyes and being the cartographer that know where to dig the well.digdigdigdig thisthe world is (up) side (down)and we need someone to shake the change loose.

* * * * *Heather Ann Schmidt has taught writing at Mott Community College, ITT Technical Institute in Michigan and Southern New Hampshire University’s online program. Her poetry collection On Recalling Life Through the Eye of the Needle was released in January 2011 by Village Green Press and her latest book, Transient Angels, was published by Crisis Chronicles Press in May. Heather’s forthcoming collections include Red Hibiscus and Field Notes. Find her at http://heatherannschmidt.yolasite.com.

Casing yesterday’s dream Like a cello on a rainy day Scraping the pavement for A bit of inspiration a foot Print left undisturbed in the Cement duly initialed and Paraphrased of sentiment Hopefully heading in the Right direction asking the Right question of a stranger You just met for the first Time & will never meet Under that guise again

KE

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“On becoming a friend” (c)2011 by Kevin Eberhardt, used with the poet’s permission

Kevin Eberhardt is a northern Ohio poet whose work has appeared in ArtCrimes, The City Poetry, the Deep Cleveland Junkmail Oracle,Fuck Poetryand accompanied images by London photographer Richard Byerley. He is a featured artist at www.agentofchaos.com. His chapbook, Burnin’ Shadows, was published in 2011 by Crisis Chronicles Press. You may contact KE at ke767@hotmail.com.

she fills her bucketbut it’s full of holesshe holds it upso everyone elsegets a drinkbut she’s leftwith an empty wish

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Jolynne M Hudnell writes cryptic poetry and flow poetry, draws with oil pastels, crochets doilies and creates sculptures with recycled materials. Originally from Elyria and now based in Athens, Ohio, Jolynne is a freelance writer and the author of Beyond the Sun: The Collection.

Matthew Dickman reads his poem “Slow Dance” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

Rita Dove reads her poem “American Smooth” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.